Copyright © 2000 Academic Press. All rights reserved.
Regular Article
Pisum sativum Mitochondrial Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Can Be Assembled as a Functional α2β2 Heterotetramer in the Cytoplasm of Pichia pastoris
Received 4 February 2000;
Abstract
Pea (Pisum sativum) mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) was produced by coexpression of the mature α and β subunits in the cytoplasm of the yeast Pichia pastoris. Size-exclusion chromatography of recombinant E1, using a Superose 12 column, yielded a peak at Mr 160,000 that contained both α and β subunits as well as E1 activity. This corresponds to the size of native α2β2 E1. Recombinant E1α (His6)-E1β was purified by affinity chromatography using immobilized Ni+, with a yield of 2.8 mg L−1. The pyruvate-decarboxylating activity of recombinant E1 was dependent upon added Mg2+ and thiamin-pyrophosphate and was enhanced by the oxidant potassium ferricyanide. Native pea mitochondrial E1-kinase catalyzed phosphorylation of Ser residues in the α-subunit of recombinant E1, with concomitant loss of enzymatic activity. Thus, mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase can be assembled in the cytoplasm of P. pastoris into an α2β2 heterotetramer that is both catalytically active and competent for regulatory phosphorylation.
Author Keywords: assembly; mitochondrial; phosphorylation; pyruvate dehydrogenase; yeast
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, 117 Schweitzer Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. Fax: (573) 882-5635. E-mail: randalld@missouri.edu.






E-mail Article
Add to my Quick Links

Cited By in Scopus (3)





